Lightning strikes Lawrence house, setting it on fire; family uninjured

Lightning struck a Lawrence home Tuesday evening, igniting a fire and displacing those inside, Nassau fire officials said.

Around 6:40 p.m., the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department responded to a 911 call regarding a lightning strike and a subsequent house fire on Juniper Circle North in Lawrence, Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said in a news release Tuesday evening.

Multiple occupants were eating dinner at the time of the lightning strike, Uttaro said. Once the home’s smoke alarms began to ring, the residents left the home. Two adults and two children live in the house, according to Uttaro.

Around 90 firefighters — including from the Woodmere, Hewlett, Meadowmere Park, Valley Stream, Inwood and Elmont fire departments — responded to the scene, according to the news release.

The blaze was deemed under control within 20 minutes, Uttaro said.

The lightning strike and fire caused "moderate damage to the roof area of the house," the release said. 

No civilians or firefighters were injured, Uttaro said.

Thunderstorms had moved through Long Island Tuesday evening and some storms had frequent lightning.